Balance Sheet
At December 31, 2024, total assets were $1.89 billion, reflecting a $275.6 million, or 17.0% increase from December 31, 2023. This increase was primarily attributable to growth in loans totaling $189.6 million, or 15.7%, to $1.40 billion. Our higher yielding variable rate commercial loans increased $182.7 million, or 24.8%, during this same period (litigation related loans increased $223.4 million, or 36.5%, to $835.8 million). Our commercial relationship banking sales pipeline remained robust, anchored by our national platforms, regional BDOs, and supported by our competitive advantages in data, analytics and digital marketing. Our available-for-sale securities portfolio increased $119.6 million to $241.7 million as compared to December 31, 2023, as management deployed excess liquidity into securities as part of our previously mentioned balance sheet management strategy. Our held-to-maturity securities portfolio totaled $68.7 million, a decrease of $8.3 million, or 10.8%, due to portfolio amortization. In the third quarter of 2023, management elected to close out its reverse repurchase agreements and reinvest these funds into higher yielding commercial loans. Our total securities to assets ratio was 16.6% at December 31, 2024 as compared to 12.5% in the comparable prior year, enhancing our liquidity position, asset composition, and flexibility in the future.
The following table provides information regarding the composition of our loan portfolio for the periods presented:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | December 31, | | | September 30, | | | December 31, | |
| | 2024 | | | 2024 | | | 2023 | |
|
| | (Dollars in thousands) | |
Real estate: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Multifamily | | $ | 355,165 | | 25.4 | % | | $ | 350,857 | | 27.0 | % | | $ | 348,241 | | 28.8 | % |
Commercial real estate | | | 87,038 | | 6.2 | | | | 87,544 | | 6.8 | | | | 89,498 | | 7.4 | |
1 – 4 family | | | 14,665 | | 1.1 | | | | 14,749 | | 1.1 | | | | 17,937 | | 1.5 | |
Total real estate | | | 456,868 | | 32.7 | | | | 453,150 | | 34.9 | | | | 455,676 | | 37.7 | |
Commercial: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Litigation related | | | 835,839 | | 59.8 | | | | 727,749 | | 56.1 | | | | 612,457 | | 50.7 | |
Other | | | 84,728 | | 6.1 | | | | 97,690 | | 7.5 | | | | 125,457 | | 10.4 | |
Total commercial | | | 920,567 | | 65.9 | | | | 825,439 | | 63.6 | | | | 737,914 | | 61.1 | |
Consumer | | | 19,339 | | 1.4 | | | | 18,874 | | 1.5 | | | | 14,491 | | 1.2 | |
Total loans held for investment | | $ | 1,396,774 | | 100.0 | % | | $ | 1,297,463 | | 100.0 | % | | $ | 1,208,081 | | 100.0 | % |
Deferred loan fees and unearned premiums, net | | | 247 | | | | | | (20) | | | | | | (668) | | | |
Loans, held for investment | | $ | 1,397,021 | | | | | $ | 1,297,443 | | | | | $ | 1,207,413 | | | |
Total deposits were $1.64 billion as of December 31, 2024, a $234.9 million, or 16.7%, increase from December 31, 2023. This was primarily due to a $203.9 million, or 22.0%, increase in Savings, NOW and Money Market deposits, primarily driven by our IOLTA and other escrow deposits as well as a $24.7 million, or 5.2%, increase in noninterest bearing demand deposits. Our deposit strategy primarily focuses on developing full service branchless commercial banking relationships nationally with our clients through commercial lending facilities, payment processing, and other unique commercial cash management services in our two national verticals, rather than competing with other institutions on rate. Our longer duration IOLTA, escrow and settlement deposits represent $979.0 million, or 59.6%, of total deposits. As of December 31, 2024, uninsured deposits were $463.9 million, or 28%, of our total deposits of $1.64 billion, excluding $12.4 million of affiliate deposits held by the Bank. Approximately 80% of our uninsured deposits represent clients with full commercial relationship banking with us (i.e.-commercial loans, payment processing, and other commercial service-oriented relationships) including, but not limited to, law firm operating accounts, law firm IOLTA/escrow accounts, merchant reserves, ISO reserves, ACH processing, and custodial accounts.
Due to the nature of our larger mass tort and class action settlements related to the litigation vertical, we participate in FDIC insured sweep programs as well as treasury secured money market funds. As of December 31, 2024, off-balance sheet sweep funds totaled approximately $554.4 million, of which approximately $424.2 million, or 76.5%, was available to be swept on balance sheet as reciprocal client relationship deposits. Our deposit growth and off-balance sheet funds continue to demonstrate our highly efficient branchless and technology enabled deposit platforms.
At December 31, 2024, we had the ability to borrow, on a secured basis, up to $431.7 million from the FHLB of New York and $51.4 million from the FRB of New York discount window. No borrowing amounts were outstanding during the fourth quarter of 2024. Historically, we have not leveraged our balance sheet to generate earnings and have always utilized core client deposits to fund our asset growth and related earnings.
Stockholders’ equity increased $38.5 million to $237.1 million as of December 31, 2024, when compared to December 31, 2023, primarily driven by increases in retained earnings (net income). During the fourth quarter 2024, the increase in retained earnings (net income) was offset by increases in (1) other comprehensive losses (unrealized net losses on securities available-for-sale, net of taxes) of $4.0 million to $14.3 million due to changes in market interest rates and (2) increases in treasury stock of $3.1 million to $5.7 million due to the vesting of stock grants.